Expo 88
January 8th 2009 22:00
1988 Australian Bicentenary
If you were living in any other country than Australia in the 80s, then you probably have no idea what the hell Expo 88 is.
If, however, you were, and even more so, if you were a child at the time, then you will know exactly what I am talking about.
Ironically though, it actually was a liberating time for all Australians, as ethnic borders and cultures started to break down.
Somehow leaving the political in-correctness behind, it was a kick-ass time to be alive in Australia. Our music was hitting the big time and the Australian culture in movies like Crocodile Dundee sent Australia's stock burning skyward – we were the flavour of the month. It was just a time to party hard in the economically rich and high temperate climate (ie. it was a hot summer and we had credit cards).
Remember those commemorative coins we all got in school? Plus there were stamps and flags and tea-towels and number plates and a billion other products of hysteria.
There was the First Fleet re-enactment in Sydney, and to a lesser degree, some kind of similar thing in Melbourne, which my grandfather dragged me along too.
They opened the ultra-modern parliament, and there was also the Australia Live television event, which was a four hour show on Channel 9 that opened Australia's Bicentennial celebrations. It had all the Oz celebrities and crossed to stacks of remote locations, complete with broadcasts from Ronnie Reagan and Margaret Thatcher – as with anything in the 80s, it was a big technological innovation at the time.
For six months, this was the Disney Land of Australia for every kid, and any that actually got to go were admired by all.
Naturally, being the 80s, the theme of the expo had to be technology and the mascot was a platypus called Expo Oz.
The top pavilions were the special effects ‘Dreamtime Theatre’ and also the Sky Needle, which is still in Brisbane today.
The Queen opened the event herself, and among other highlights, there was the first High Definition TV broadcast and also a text-based version of something they were calling the inter-net?
“Celebrate ‘88!”
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Comment by Nomad
Awesome Food
my family went on a holiday up to queensland in 89, and well all the pavilions were still there, minus the crowds, well minus everything, it was like that simpsons episode when bart hires a car and go's to the worlds fair in some shit town...
Comment by katyzzz
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Comment by Michaelie
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I had almost forgotten Expo 88. Gold, Jarrah.
Michaelie
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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i was in primary school and i remember the assembly where the coins got handed out . . .
thanks for the memory jog!